An important NATO gathering is taking place in Split.
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović on Saturday opened a meeting of the NATO Military Committee in Split. “I would like to thank you all for your commitment to the Alliance and to participation in many peace missions around the world”, said the President in her opening speech, reports tportal.hr on September 17, 2016.
It is a regular meeting of the NATO Military Committee in the format of the Chiefs of Defence Staffs, and it is the first such meeting after the NATO summit in Warsaw, said Chief of General Staff of Croatian Army General Mirko Šundov at the conference which was also attended by Defence Minister Josip Buljević.
The President said that conference would continue with discussions which were started during the NATO summits in Warsaw and Wales, where NATO allies demonstrated an impressive level of unity, stressing that the next task was to go a step further and address various challenges facing the Alliance. “The answer for these challenges is the fundamental principle and value of NATO, and that is solidarity”, concluded the President.
In his opening remarks at the start of the conference, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee General Petr Pavel thanked the Presidents for warm welcome and hospitality, as well as for Croatia’s active role within the Alliance. “Croatia is a full member of NATO and it continuously demonstrates its commitment to the principles of the Alliance”, said Pavel.
The main role of the NATO Military Committee is to issue guidance and advice on military policy and strategy. The Committee is responsible for recommendations to the political bodies of NATO on measures necessary for the common defence of the NATO area and the implementation of decisions related to operations and missions led by NATO.
General Šundov said that the conference was an important event for Croatia. “This is an important event for us and for NATO, and I am sure that the results of this conference will contribute to stability and security”, said Šundov. Asked to comment on “sensitive situation in the world and Croatia’s neighbourhood”, Šundov said that “there are challenges and threats”. “I believe that it is very important for Croatia to be a member of NATO and that reinforces our position”, said Šundov.
He pointed out that Croatia, at a recent summit in Warsaw, decided to take part in NATO activities in the Baltic countries, and that it will send one unit to Lithuania. “We will prepare and we will participate together with the group of other countries under the leadership of Germany”, added Šundov.
